Nigerian arrested in Turkey over $2.5m romance scam

Turkish authorities have arrested a Nigerian national, identified as Kingsley O., in Istanbul for his alleged involvement in a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded a Hong Kong dentist of $2.5 million. The operation, which spanned two years, saw the suspect and four accomplices apprehended in the Esenyurt district.

According to reports from Turkish news outlet Haberler, Kingsley O. allegedly posed as an American businessman named Richard. He reportedly met the victim, a dentist identified as Siu P.Y.F., online in 2020. Over the course of their long-distance relationship, maintained through phone calls, he is accused of convincing her that he was involved in a major investment project in Istanbul and required financial assistance.

Believing in their impending marriage, the dentist allegedly transferred a total of $2.5 million in various installments to several Turkish bank accounts between 2020 and 2022. However, after receiving the substantial sum, the suspect allegedly ceased all communication, becoming unreachable and prompting the victim to report the fraud to Hong Kong authorities.

Initial investigations in Hong Kong proved unfruitful, leading the victim to engage a Turkish lawyer and file a complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. This prompted the Istanbul Police Department’s Fraud Bureau to trace the bank accounts. While four of the arrested account holders reportedly denied knowledge of the transactions, one confessed to handing over the funds to a Nigerian man known to him as Richard, which led investigators to Kingsley O., the alleged mastermind. He has denied the allegations during interrogation.